Front running-gear.



Nq.- 877, PATENTND JAN. 21, 1908.A G. E. BABGOGK.

' FRONT RUNNING GEAR.

APPL'IGATION rILED SEPTA; 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awww/'bez geafgelaca No. 877,159. PATENTBD JAN. 21, 1908.

G. E. BABCOGK.

FRONT RUNNING GEAR.A APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 (1l/@Mmm A I Q @Mmm/Vw Stilo-magg# GEORGE E. BABOOOK,OF FORT PLAIN, NEW YORK.

FRONT RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Applicaticn filed Septemben, 1907. Serial No. 391.364.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fifth wheel andtongue connection for the front axle of a wagon, and

improved means for fastening the wheels on the axle.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of certain novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thefront running gear ofa toy wagon constructed and arranged in accordancewith the invention 5 Fig. 2I isa vertical sectional view taken on a linewith the axle, Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view taken atright-angles to Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a detail erspective view of the tongueconnection; view of the fifth wheel plate; Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe tripod-shaped connecting bars; Fig. 7 is a detail cross sectionalview 0f the axle, showing the manner of securing the ends of thebolster. thereto and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of thewheel-retaining devices.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the front axle ofa toy or childs wagon. On the axle, midway between its ends, is arrangeda tongue connection, 2, which is here shown and is preferably formed ofheavy sheet metal bent in substantially U-shape to provide a pair offorwardly projecting plates, 3, between which the inner end of thetongue is pivotally connected. The looped end of the connection isprovided with a downwardly projecting extension through which andadjacent to the lower edge thereof, are formed alined apertures, 4,through which the axle, 1, extends. ln the up er edge of the connection,immediately above the aperture 4,

ig. 5 is a similar are formed oppositely disposed rectangular notches orrecesses, 5, in which is adapted to be seated a transversely dis osedbolster, 6, which is in the form of a at metal bar having a centrallydisposed, downwardly bent portion, 7, which is disposed between thesides of the U-shaped tongue connection and serves to prevent anyvlateral movement of the latter.

The bolster is bent downwardly at its opposite ends to form axleengaging-lugs, 8, in which are formed apertures, 9, through which theaxle extends. In the axle 1, at the point where the saine is engagedbythe lugs, V8, of the bolster, are formed oppositely disposed, verticalnotches, 10, into which the edges of the apertures 9 in the lugs, 8, areadapted to be upset or clenched by denting in the outer edges of thelugs, 8, as shown.

By thus connecting the axle with the bolster,` the former is rigidlyheld against rotation or lateral movement.

Arranged in the upper portion of the tongue connection is 'a fifth wheelplate, 12, said plate having its opposite ends bent downwardly on eachside ofthe bolster and said plate engages and rests on the bolster inthe downwardly bent central portion, 7, thereof, thus providing aninterlocking con# nection between said plate, the bolster and the ton ueconnection.,I The forward downwardly ent end of the plate, 12, isprovided on each side'with laterally projecting lugs, 18, which areadapted to be engaged with oppositely disposed rectangular apertures,

14, formed in the tongue engaging plates, 3,

adjacent to their upper edges. The downwardly bent rear end of'theplate, 12, is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug,` 15, which isadapted to be engaged with an elongated opening, or slot, 16, formed inthe looped end of the tongue connection.

Pivotally connected to the fifth wheel plate by means of a bolt, rivetor other suitable connection, 17, are tripod-shaped body connectingbars, 18, the upper ends of which are bent in a horizontal plane toprovide attaching lugs, 19, in which are formed bolt holes, 20, toreceive fastening bolts, by means of which said bars are connected tothe bodv of the wagon. By thus pivotally connecting the bars 18 to thefifth wheel plate, said plate, together with the tongue connections,bolster and axle, may be turned freely in any direction to uide thewagon.

ends, are formed opposite, transversely disposed notches or recesses,21, with which are adapted toy be engaged wheel-retaining disks 22,-said disks having formed therein rectangular notches or recesses, 23,said notches forming oppositely disposed wings 24 in the disk 22, whichengage the notches 2l in the opposite sides of the axle, and thussupport the disks 22 in position to hold the wheel in place on the endsof the axle. The disks 22 are held against casual disengagement from thenotches 2l by upsetting or bending the lower ends of the wings, 24,laterally in opposite directions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a front running gear of the character described, the combinationwith the front axle, of a substantially U-shaped tongue connectionarranged thereon, tongue receiving plates formed on the forward end ofsaid connection, a bolster bar having a centrally disposed downwardlyprojecting portion adapted to engage the upper edges of the tongueconnection, downwardly bent apertured axle engaging lugs formed on theouter end of said bolster bar, means to ri idly connect said lugs withthe axle, a fifth w ieel plate arranged in the upper edge of said tongueconnection,

v attaching lugs formed on the opposite ends of said fifth wheel plateand adapted to engage apertures or slots formed in the tongueconnection, and means to pivotally connect said iifth wheel plate withthe body of the wagon, substantially as described.

2. In a front running gear of the character described, the combinationwith an axle having formed therein vertically disposed parallel notches,a substantially U-shaped tongue connection having formed thereinoppositely r disposed axle engaging holesthrough which said axlefextendsand having in its upper edges oppositely disposed rectangular notches, abolster comprising a flat metal bar bent midway between its ends to forma del pressed portionadapted to be engaged with the rectangular notchesin the upper edges of said tongue connection, downwardly projectingapertured lugs formed on the opposite ends of said bolster, said lugsbeing adapted to engage the parallel notches in the opposite sides ofthe axle and to be upset or clenched therein, a iifth wheel plate havingdownwardlybent opposite ends, attaching lugs formed on said ends andadapted to be engaged with said tongue connection, and means topivotally connect said iifth wheel plate with the body of the wagon,substantially as described.

3. In a front running gear of the character described, the combinationwith an axle having formed therein vertically disposed parallel notches,a substantially U-shaped tongue r connection having formed thereinoppositely disposed axle engaging holes through which said axle extendsand having in its upper edges oppositely disposed rectangular notches, abolster comprising a flat metal bar bent midway between its ends to forma depressed portion adapted to be engaged with .the rectangular notchesin the upper edges of said tongue connection, downwardly projectingapertured lugs formed on the opposite ends of said bolster, said lugsbeing adapted -to engage the parallel notches in the oppoaxle, of atongue connection arranged thereon,

abolster bar having a depressed central portion to form shoulders toengage said tongue connection, means to rigidly connect .the oppositeends of said bolster with the axle, a fth wheel plate arranged in saidtongue connection over the engaging portion of said bolster, attachinglugs on said fifth wheel plate to engage said tongue connection wherebythe latter and said plate are fastened together, and tripod-shaped bodyconnecting bars, pivotally secured to said fifth wheel plate,substantially as described.

5. In a front running gear of the character described, the combinationwith an axle having formed in its opposite sides inner and outer pairsof parallel vertically disposed notches, of a tongue connection arrangedon said axle, a bolster bar having a central depressed portion to formshoulders to engage said tongue connection, apertured lugs on theopposite ends of said bolster bar to engage theinner pair of notches insaid axle, whereby the latter is held a ainst rotation and lateralmovement, a iift wheel plate adapted to be secured in the upper portionof said tongue connection, tripod-shaped body connecting bars pivotallysecured to said fifth wheel plate, and notched wheel-retaining disksadapted to be engaged with the outer pair of parallel notches in theends of the axle 'and to be upset therein to prevent their casualremoval, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-set my hand in presence oftwosubscribing witnesses` GEORGE E. BABCOCK. Witnesses: Y

CHAs. G. ZIELLEY, A. L. Gnos.

